Recent reports claim surging interest in church with anecdotal stories of more young men attending. Christian Broadcasting Network reported churches “overflowing” after Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Talk of enthusiasm bred hope of revival.
This chatter came after decades of decline in Christian affiliation by tens of millions of Americans. In 2007, 78 percent of Americans identified as Christians; by 2023-4, the figure dropped to 62 percent. Nones (the religiously unaffiliated) rose from 16 percent to 29 percent over that time. Tens of thousands of churches have closed, with as many as 15,000 churches likely to shutter this year. It’s hard to blame people who have watched their churches empty for getting over exuberant given anysigns of new interest.
But, broadly, it’s just not true.
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